National Model Design Code: Phase 2 Pilots - expression of interest
Published 20 July 2021
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2021
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-model-design-code-phase-2-pilots-expression-of-interest/national-model-design-code-phase-2-pilots-expression-of-interest
The revised National Planning Policy Framework sets an expectation that all local authorities should prepare local design guides or design codes. Alongside this MHCLG has published the National Model Design Code (NMDC), which provides tools and guidance to assist in the production of local design codes. We are already testing the application of the NMDC with 14 local authorities, generating valuable insight to help in the wider application of design coding nationally.
The Office for Place are delighted to announce that we are launching a second phase of design code pilots. We are now seeking up to 10 additional local authorities, from counties to districts, to work with their communities and the Office for Place to develop best practice design codes and processes that can serve as exemplars to others in the creation of local design codes. In this second phase of pilots, we are also seeking expressions of interest from designated neighbourhood planning groups to establish design codes. We will work with those selected to develop an approach for producing an effective design code which has demonstrable support from the local community and key stakeholders, who will have helped to shape the code.
This is a real opportunity for local communities, councils and neighbourhood planning groups to set the standard for the design of their local area, and to ensure that new development meets their expectations for greener, more beautiful homes, streets, public spaces and neighbourhoods, which have a positive impact on people’s quality of life. We are also keen to explore the potential and role of design codes to address other priorities, including levelling up and regeneration, the path to net zero and climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as bio-diversity net gain, active travel and how to meet need in areas of high housing demand.
What are we looking for?
We will be looking for partners from across England and in a range of contexts from high density urban areas to rural villages. We also want to work with partners who will be developing design codes at a range of different scales. This could, for example, be a county-wide co-ordinating code, a clear set of design standards for a town centre, or a design code for a network of villages in a district. We are also looking for neighbourhood planning groups who are keen to produce their own design code for their local area.
To support those who are selected to be pilots, successful bidders will be given a share of £1 million and will receive support from expertise drawn from the Office for Place and its advisory board. We will work with the successful bidding teams to develop a detailed proposal and process for developing and producing a design code that is aspirational in its aim to achieve beauty in development, sets simple, concise, illustrated design requirements and, importantly, engages communities in a process that is meaningful and demonstrates support for the design standards set by a design code. Decisions on funding for each of the pilots will be discussed as part of the development of the detailed proposal.
Applicants should have access to the skills and expertise to develop a design code and engage the local community, using their own skills and expertise, or with support from consultants that can be appointed following a successful bid. We will provide additional support in the form of expert advice and input via a programme of events and workshops likely to include topic-based workshops, roundtables and 1:1 support and challenge.
Anticipated outputs
We anticipate the programme being up to 12 months in duration due to the significance of the work to be undertaken. Within that time, we will expect the pilots, with our support, to have worked with the local community and key stakeholders to develop an effective process for creating a design code and have produced a code which is locally supported and will lead to the creation of beautiful and well-designed homes and neighbourhoods. Crucially, the process and resulting design codes will be something that other local authorities, neighbourhood planning groups and communities can learn from or use the appropriate and relevant content for their own local design code.
To support this, we will be running a monitoring and evaluation process alongside the pilot programme, which successful bidders will be expected to participate in; and we will be seeking an interim and final report from each of the pilots which sets out the process and key learnings.
Overarching programme:
13 September 2021: expression of interest closes at 5pm
September 2021: proposals developed with Office for Place
October 2021: proposals for each of the pilots agreed, including detailed programme and budget
December 2021: first interim reporting point – progress report
April 2022: second interim reporting point – progress report
September 2022: design codes completed (and adopted, where possible) and final report submitted
This is an indicative programme, and if successful bidders are able to progress more quickly to prepare codes, this would be welcomed. As part of the scoping stage the Office for Place will work with pilots to develop and agree a suitable timetable; however, the interim report stage at the end of December should be met.
Throughout the programme we will arrange multiple points of engagement including workshops, roundtables and 1:1 support and challenge sessions.
Expression of interest (EOI) Submission:
To enable us to select partners for the phase 2 pilots, we are asking for some initial information from interested organisations; either local authorities or neighbourhood planning groups. We will then work with those who have been selected to co-design a process and detailed proposal.
We will be selecting bids to ensure that we have a geographical spread across England, a range of contexts and design codes being produced at different scales and by different tiers of local authority and neighbourhood planning groups. We will score the expressions of interest based on the level of commitment to the pilot programme and against the ambitions set out in this prospectus and the National Model Design Code and revised National Planning Policy Framework.
To apply, please submit an expression of interest via the link below. If you have any queries, or issues with the form, please contact us at designquality@communities.gov.uk.
The information we are seeking is:
Section 1: context
1. Name of your local authority or neighbourhood planning group
2. Name, job title and email address of main point of contact
3. Select your region
4. Are you a: Mayoral Combined Authority, County Council, District Council. Unitary Council, Parish Council, Neighbourhood Planning Group or other?
5. Please select the geographic area or context you would like to develop a design code for. Please select all that apply.
a. Urban (an existing or future urban place that may include high rise city, town/ city centre or urban neighbourhood area types)
b. Suburban (an existing or future suburban place that may include suburb, outer suburb, local centre or village area types)
c. Rural (an existing or future rural place that includes village surrounded by landscape and / or rural settlement area types)
6. Please select the scale at which you want to produce a design code:
a. Area wide (covering an entire council area)
b. New or existing settlement scale (including an entire village, town or city)
c. Centre scale (such as a local, town or city centre as well as existing single use centres such as a business park)
d. Neighbourhood scale (including a defined neighbourhood planning area)
e. Other (please specify)
Section 2: commitment to the process
Through the pilots we are seeking to establish exemplars in both the process and design code produced, with demonstrable support from communities for the design standards set and the development this will enable. Therefore, we are asking those applying to be pilots to commit to the following: (answer yes, no or unsure for each one)
7. If selected, will you work with the local community from an early stage of the process to set standards of design that meet their aspirations for greener and more beautiful homes and neighbourhoods?
8. If selected, will you find ways to demonstrate that the design standards set have demonstrable support from the local community and should lead to locally popular development?
9. If selected, will you follow the coding process set out in the National Model Design Code in preparing your local design code (analysis, vision and code), with community engagement throughout the process?
10. If selected, will you co-design a process and detailed proposal with the Office for Place?
11. If selected, will you produce a design code which is aspirational in its aim to achieve beauty in development and sets simple, concise, illustrated design requirements?
12. If selected, can you work within the programme outlined above, or deliver a code sooner than indicated?
13. If selected, will you agree to the outputs of the programme being published for other local authorities and neighbourhood planning groups to learn from, including details of the process you have followed and the resulting design code? (And that the copyright of the products of the pilot programme e.g, reports or design codes can be shared with MHCLG?)
14. Do you have full support for your expression of interest and these commitments from relevant senior officials and elected members?
Section 3: your aspirations
15. Why do you want to be selected to be part of this design code pilot programme? (200 words maximum)
16. What other issues will you seek to address through design coding e.g. regeneration, climate change, biodiversity, active travel, supporting SMEs and housing need? (200 words maximum)
17. Outline the design skills, capacity and commitment to design quality within your organisation and whether you will be drawing on any external consultants for additional support. For local authorities, please indicate who (individuals and / or team) would lead the design coding pilot from the local authority and if you are likely to procure / or have already procured consultants (designers, proptech, etc) or other partners (neighbourhood forum, parish, districts, developers etc) who you are anticipating supporting this process; and what role they are likely to play. (200 words maximum)
18. Would you plan to adopt the local design code that you produce? Please explain your response. (200 words maximum)
Those bidders who are shortlisted may be invited to an interview and / or be asked to share additional information with us based on their submission.
All local authorities should consider their duties under the Equalities Act of 2010 in their response to the Expression of Interest.